Heavy duty vibrator



April 1962 L. D. LAKE ETAL 3,029,325

HEAVY DUTY VIBRATOR Fil ed July 27, 1960 INVENTORS LELYN 0. LAKE ARTHURJ. LITTLE j ww c p A TTORNE Y ent dice 3,029,325 HEAVY DUTY VIiiRATORLelyn D. Loire and Arthur 3. Little, Du Quoin, 11L, as-

signers to P. R. Maiiory 8: Co., Inc., Indianapolis, Ind, a corporationof Delaware Filed July 27, 1960, Ser. No. 45,764 12 Claims. (Cl. ace-eaThis invention relates generally to electrical translating apparatus andhas particular reference to such means and methods including translatingapparatus for transferring energy between direct and alternating currentcircuits.

There is need, particularly in military applications, for vibratorswhich will stand extremes of shock, vibration and acceleration. In thepast, this need had been met by standard types of vibrators that hadsome of the parts altered to take on heavy loads and had, especially intheir moving parts, been miniaturized. Any shock or acceleration,however, which tended to close the sets of contacts on these vibratorswas detrimental to them, and there was a definite point where the forcedue to shock or acceleration would overcome the driving force and causea failure. Under any significant levels of shock or acceleration, it wasimpossible to start these mechanisms. Any attempt to have these alteredstandard type of vibrators handle larger amounts of power would end in aself-defeating cycle of increasing contact means, stiffening the hinge,and increasing the driving power.

In order to meet the requirements calling for high power with resistanceof environmental extremes, a completely different and advanced type ofvibrator structure is herewith described. Among the features disclosedand de-. veloped in the present invention are: the use of a balancedtorsion hinge assembly; the feature of having wires run along thetorsion hinge, and the advanced stacking method used.

it isan object of the presentinvention to provide a vibrator havingimproved features adapting the same for use in environmental extremes ofgreat shock and accelera-tion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a torsion hingevibrator which gives operational efiiciencies greater than otherspresently used under conditions of shock and acceleration.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vibratinginterrupter organization which represents a fundamentally noveldeparture from conventional design in the use of a balanced torsionhinge assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vibratinginterrupter organization which includes a balanced torsion hingeassembly having good mechanical hinge and electrical conductivitycharacteristics.

The invention also contemplates a vibrating electromagnetic interrupterwhich is extremely simple in its structure, is characterized by extremeruggedness, and which may be readily manufactured and sold on apractical and commercial scale at a low cost.

Generally speaking the present invention discloses an electromagneticvibrating interrupter construction which comprises, in combination-astack assembly on which a driver coil 13 is supported by means of a pairof pins 12 extending from a hemispherical solid stack "clamping member11. A pole piece 14 consisting of a straight metal rod is connected to abase 15 which can be screwed on to one end of the vibrator casing 42.The pole piece is surrounded by the coil and extends through the centerthereof to stop adjacent the reed armature 17 of the vibrator. The stackalso includes a plurality of fixed, side, contact supporting arms 20,21, 22, 23 and a torsion reed assembly 25 including the vibratorarmature 17 moveable within a space formed in the stack. On the swingingreed, at the end opposite the armature, two pairs of contact arms 30, 31are joined to the armature member by face plates 32, 33. The contactarms and the armature pivot about the hinge member 34 of the assembly sothat when the armature is activated the contact arms make and break withthe contacts on the fixed side arms. These side arms have angulatedportions and may be adjusted for contact spacing. Above the contacts onthe fixed arms, and to one of the supports of the torsion hinge, thereare connected stiff conductor rods or terminal tabs 40 which are adaptedto be slipped into the terminals of a base header 41 so as to close oilthe other end of the vibrator casing 42. The entire constructionobviates soldering techniques and is of an extremely rugged constructionimpervious to extremes of shock and acceleration while handling largeamounts of power.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention wiH becomeapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings; in which FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the unitsof the vibrator.

FIG. 1a is a side elevational view of the units of the vibrator showingthe cooperative arrangement thereof.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the vibrator reed assembly of thepresent invention illustrating the novel constructional balanced featureof the components therein.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the vibrating reed structure asjoined to the torsion hinge employed in the preferred form of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the stack assembly of the vibrator, saidview showing the cooperative arrangement of the separate parts thereof.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention. is described herein, itis contemplated that variation may be made in the method of procedureand the construction of parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the following description and inthe claims, parts will be identifiedby specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be asgeneric in their application to similar facts as the art will permit.

lnthe preferred embodiment of the invention, there is shown theimportant features of the vibrator assembly. The parts are perfectlybalanced about all axes of the torsion hinge. It is to be noted that theone non-symmetrical structure, that of the armature 17, is balanced bycorrect forming and by making the spacer of aluminum. The moment ofinertia about the horizontal axis of the hinge 34 has been kept as muchas possibie by conccntra ing the mass due to rivets 5i) close to thisaxis. Further, the hinge has been constructed in a manner such that itsfrequency adds frequency stability to the mechanisms. The center line ofa torsion hinge theoretically no motion While the hinge is vibratingabout it. By running a wire or wires 53 along this center line and asclose to it as possible, advantage is taken of both of the properties ofspring steel as a hinge and copper as av thermai and electricalconductor.. The reed assembly illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises a torsionhinge unit 34, a pair of dual reed arms 39, 31, reed arm stops 6d, 61placed against the reed arms, and an offset T-shaped armature 17. Thetorsion hinge has a generally rectangular configuration with portions 76of scroll-like shape cut out therefrom leaving two side portionsconnected by a cross bar or hinge as placed at approximately one-thirdtherealong. The center portion of the hinge has face plates 32, 33 forcarrying the riveted reed arms, the stops and the oppositely placeddependent T-shaped armature having an oifset configuration. The armaturemoves in the space cut out between the sides of the torsion hinge andsince it is riveted to the reed arms, contactors and stops, it will beenabled to move the contact arms against the means of four screws..stack for movement of the armature and the swinging reed.

swinging reed arms move.

accuses fixed side contacts of the vibrator upon its activation, as isusual with vibrators. The cross bar 75 is channeled to accommodate oneach of its sides, two wires 53 comprising 18 strands of copper wire.Thus the torsion hinge affords mechanical strength as well as goodconductivity. The sides of the torsion hinge have three holes cuttherein so that they canjbe placed between copper hinge support arms 73of flaglike configuration having a head portion and a wider bodyportion. The head portion is grooved to accommodate the ends of the Wireplaced along the cross bar portion of the hinge.

The stacking construction employed also allows great efficiency in theutilization of available space. The hinge supports are placed on thereed assembly and fastened to it by rivets. The complete reed assembly,side arms and appropriate insulators are then put in a stack by Space isallowed through this The stack assembly includes the four copper sidearms. These arms are adapted to be fixed in the stack and hold thecontacts against which the contacts portions of the The stack has asolid semicircular coil supporting member made of copper 11. This coilsupporting member has a pair of pins 12 extending from it which fitsinto the coil assembly casing containing the driver coil 13 wound aboutthe centrally inserted pole pieces. The coil assembly in its casing isthus adapted to be supported by the stack assembly. The

threaded pole piece and surrounding coil are adapted to be screwed intoa supporting cylinder with the pole piece of the vibrator extendingabove the armature of the vibrator.

In the assembly of the vibrator, the 'sidearms and one of the hingesupport pieces have rigid terminal connectors V or tabs connectedthereto and are extended toward a base header. The header which isslipped over the tabs is then fastened to a supporting vibrator cylindercasing. The spacing between the reed contacts and the fixed contacts isthen adjusted by bending the side arms. The tabs are sealed with solderwhere they come through the pins in the header. The side arms, by thismeans of construction, are rigidly affixed at each end. Thisconstruction protects them from deformation due to shock and vibrationand allows them to be made of high conductivity material such as copperand provides the current with a short direct copper path without weldedor soldered connections. This construction, of course, reduces heatingwithin the vibrator.

The construction above described provides a vibrator that, for the sizeof its contacts and the power it can carry, is extremely small andideally suited to running under extremes of shock vibration andacceleration.

While the present invention, as to its objects and advantages, has beendescribed herein as carried out in specific embodiments thereof, it isnot desired to be limited thereby, but it is intended to cover theinvention broadly with the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprisesin combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack,a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrallydisposed in said coil, said stack including a plurality of fixed contactsupporting members, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, saidassembly including an armature moveable within an opening in said stack,said armature being adjacent said pole piece, swinging reed contact armsoppositely disposed to said armature and joined thereto on a hingemoveable about an axis, said contact arms moveable against said fixedcontact arms when said coil is energized to move said armature, terminaltabs connected to one of said reed assembly supporting members and tosaid fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having tubes foraccepting said tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by saidheader and at the other end by said base of said pole pieces, saidconstruction affording an extremely rugged assembly impervious toextremes of shock and acceleration, and adapted to handle high power.

2. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprisesin combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack,apole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrallydisposed in said coil, said stack including a plurality of fixed contactsupporting members, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, saidassembly including an armature moveable within space in said stack, saidarmature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, swinging reedcontact arms oppositely disposed to said armature and joined thereto ona hinge moveable about a horizontal axis, supports for said hinge alsoheld by said hinge assembly in said stack, said contact arms moveableagainst said fixed contact arms when said coil is energized to move saidarmature, terminal tabs connected to one of said reed assemblysupporting members, and said fixed arms above said contacts, a terminalheader having connector means for accepting said tabs, and a vibratorcasing closed at one end by said header and at the other end by saidbase of said pole piece base, said construction afiording an extremelyrugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock and accelera tion.

3. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprisesin combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack,a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrallydisposed in said coil, said stack including a plurality of fixed contactsupporting members, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, saidassembly including an offset T-shaped armature moveable within space insaid stack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece,swinging reed contact arms oppositely disposed to said armature andjoined thereto on a hinge moveable about a horizontal axis, supports forsaid hinge also held by said hinge assembly in said stack, said contactarms moveable against said fixed contact arms when said coil isenergized to move said armature, terminal tabs connected'to one of saidreed assembly supporting members, and said fixed arms above saidcontacts, a terminal header having means for accepting said tabs, andvibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end bysaid base of. said pole piece base, said construction affording anextremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock andacceleration.

4. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construc-' tion whichcomprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported onsaid stack, a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piececentrally disposed in said coil said stack including pin means forsupporting said driver coil thereon, a plurality of fixed contactsupporting members, and a torsion reed assembly, said reed assemblyincluding an offset formed armature moveable within space in said stack,said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, swinging reedcontact arms oppositely disposed to said armature and joined thereto ona hinge moveable about a horizontal axis, supports for said hinge alsoheld by said hinge assembly in said stack,

said reed contact arms moveable against said fixed contact supportingmembers when said coil is energized to ,move said armature, terminaltabs connected to a reed assemblysupporting member and to said fixedarms above said contacts, a terminal header having means for'acceptingsaid tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header and atthe other end by said base of said pole piece, said constructionaffording an extremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shockand acceleration.

5. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprisesin combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack,a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrallydisposed in said coil, said stack including pin means for supportingsaid driver coil thereon and a plurality of fixed contact supportingmembers, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assemblyincluding an offset T-shaped armature moveable within space in saidstack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece,swinging reed contact arms oppositely disposed to said armature andjoined thereto on a hinge moveable about a horizontal .axis, supportsfor said hinge also held by said hinge assembly on said stack,electrical conductors placed along said hinge and connected to saidhinge supports, said reed contact arms moveable against said fixedcontact supporting members when said coil is energized to move saidarmature, terminal tabs connected to one of said reed assemblysupporting members and to said fixed arms above said contacts, aterminal header having means for accepting said tabs, and a vibratorcasing closed at one end by said header and at the other end by saidbase of said pole piece, said construction aiiording an extremely ruggedassembly impervious to extremes of shock and acceleravtion.

driver coil thereon and a plurality of fixed contact supporting members,a balanced torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack,'said assemblyincluding a T-shaped armature having offset portions moveable withinspace in said stack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil polepiece, swinging reed contact arms oppositely disposed to said armatureand joined thereto by a plate riveted to a hinge moveable about ahorizontal axis, supports for said hinge also held by said hingeassembly on said stack, strands of wire running along said hinge, saidcontact reed arms moveable against said fixed contact arms when saidcoil is energized to move said armature, terminal tabs connected to oneof said reed assembly supporting members, said fixed arms above saidcontacts, a terminal header having tubes for accepting said tabs, and avibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end bysaid base of said pole piece base, said construction affording goodmechanical strength and thermal conductivity by its hinge constructionand giving an extremely rugged vibrator impervious to extremes of shockand acceleration.

7. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprisesin combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack,a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrallydisposed in said coil, said stack including pin means for supportingsaid driver coil thereon and a plurality of fixed contact supportingmembers, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assemblyincluding an offset T-shaped armature moveable within space in saidstack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece,swinging reed contact arms oppositely disposed to said armature havingrivets connecting the same to a hinge moveable about a horizontal axis,the momento of inertia being kept about said axis by concentrating saidrivets thereabout, supports for said hinge also held by said hingeassembly on said stack, said contact arms moveable against said fixedcontact arms when said coil is energized to move said armature, terminaltabs connected to one of said reed assembly supporting members and tosaid fixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having tubes foraccepting said tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by saidheader and at the other end by said base of said pole piece, saidconstruction affording an extremely rugged assembly impervious toextremes of shock and acceleration.

8. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprisesin combination a stack assembly, a

driver coil supported on said stack, a pole piece connected to ascrewable base, said pole piece centrally disposed in said coil, saidstack including pin means for supporting said driver coil thereon and aplurality of fixed contact supporting members, a torsion reed assemblyfixed in said stack, said assembly including an offset T-shaped armaturemoveable Within space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacentsaid coil pole piece, sWi iging reed contact arms oppositely disposed tosaid armature, having rivets connecting the same to a hinge moveableabout a horizontal axis, the momento of inertia being kept about saidaxis by concentrating said rivets thereabout, supports for said hingealso held by said hinge assembly on said stack, said contact armsmoveable against said fixed con tact arms when said coil is energized tomove said armatnre, stifl copper wire terminal tabs connected to one ofsaid reed assembly supporting members and to said fixed arms above saidcontacts, a terminal header having tubes for accepting said stifi tabs,and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the otherend by said base of said pole piece, said construction affording anextremely rugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock andacceleration.

9. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction which comprisesin combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported on said stack,a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piece centrallydisposed in said coil, said stack including pin means for supportingsaid driver coil thereon and a plurality of fixed contact supportingmembers, a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assemblyincluding an offset T-shaped armature moveable within space in saidstack, said armature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, a pairof dual finger swinging reed contact arms and backing members oppositelydisposed to said armature having rivets connecting the same to a hingemoveable about a horizontal axis, the momento of inertia being keptabout said axis by concentrating said rivets thereabout, supports forsaid hinge also held by said hinge assembly on said stack, said contactarms moveable against said fixed contact arms when said coil isenergized to move said armature, stiif copper wire terminal tabsconnected to one of said reed assembly supporting members and to saidfixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having tubes foraccepting said stifi tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end bysaid header and at the other end by said base of said pole piece, saidconstruction affording an extremely rugged assembly impervious toextremes of shock and acceleration.

10. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction whichcomprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported onsaid stack, a pole piece con nected to a moveable base, said pole piececentrally disposed in said coil, said stack including pin means forsupporting said driver coil thereon and a plurality of fixed contactsupporting members, portions thereof being angu-. lated and adjustable,a torsion reed assembly fixed in said stack, said assembly including anoffset T-shaped arma-' ture moveable within space in said stack, saidarmature being placed adjacent said coil pole piece, a pair of dualfinger swinging reed contact arms and backing members oppositelydisposed to said armature having rivets connecting the same to a hingemoveable about a horizontal axis, the momento of inertia being keptabout said axis by concentrating said rivets thereabout, supports forsaid hinge also held by said hinge assembly on said stack, said contactarms moveable against said fixed contact arms when said coil isenergized to move said armature, stiff copper wire terminal tabsconnected to one of said reed assembly supporting members and to saidfixed arms above said contacts, a terminal header having tubes foraccepting said stiff tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end bysaid header and at the other end by said base of said pole piece, saidconstruction affording an extremely rugged assembly impervious toextremes of shock and acceleration.

11. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction whichcomprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported onsaid stack, a pole piece connected to a screwable base, said pole piececentrally disposed in said coil, said stack including pin means mountedon a solid hemispherical copper piece for supporting said driver coilthereon and a plurality of fixed contact sup porting members, portionsthereof being angulated and adjustable, a torsion reed assembly fixed insaid stack, said assembly including an oilset T-shaped armature moveablewithin space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacent saidcoil pole piece, a pair of dual finger swinging reed contact arms andbacking members oppositely disposed to said armature and riveted to ahinge moveable about a horizontal axis, supports for said hinge alsoheld. by said hinge assembly on said stack, said hinge having wiresrunning therealong, said contact arms moveable against said fixedcontact arms when said coil is energized to move said armature, thespacing therebetween being adjusted by bending said angulated portionsof said fixed contact supporting members, terminal tabs connected to oneof said reed assembly supporting members, said fixed arms above saidcontacts, a terminal header having tubes for accepting said tabs, and avibrator casing closed at one end by said header and at the other end bysaid base of said pole piece, said construction affording an extremelyrugged assembly impervious to extremes of shock and acceleration.

12. An electromagnetic vibrating interrupter construction whichcomprises in combination a stack assembly, a driver coil supported onsaid stack, a pole piece connected to be a screwable base, said polepiece centrally disposed in said coil, said stack including pin meansmounted on a solid hemispherical copper piece for supporting said drivercoil thereon and a pluralitybf fixed contact supporting members,portions thereof being angulated and adjustable, a torsion reed assemblyfixed in said stack, said assembly including an ofiset T-shaped armaturemoveable within space in said stack, said armature being placed adjacentsaid coil pole piece, a pair of dual finger swinging reed contact armsand backing members oppositely disposed to said armature and riveted toa hinge face plate moveable about a horizontal axis, supports for saidhinge also held by said hinge assembly on said stack, said hinge havingwires running therealong, said contact arms moveable against said fixedcontact arms when said coil is energized to move said armature,

the spacing therebetween being adjusted by bending said angulatedportions of said fixed contact supporting members, terminal tabsconnected to one of said reed assembly supporting members, said fixedarms above said contacts, a terminal header having tubes for acceptingsaid tabs, and a vibrator casing closed at one end by said header beingsoldered thereto and at the other end by said threaded base of said polepiece screwed thereon, said construction affording an extremely ruggedassembly impervious to extremes of shock and acceleration.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,447,046 Aust Aug. 17, 1948 2,475,820 Coake July 12, 1949 2,600,247Huetten June 10, 1952 2,732,457 Wise Jan. 24, 1956 2,831,936 Plice Apr.22, 1958 2,916,581 Barnes Dec. 8, 1959 2,960,585 Russell Nov. 15, 1960

